Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Application Deadlines

Once you finalize your college list, the next step is deciding how to apply.

Application deadlines can feel like alphabet soup: EA, ED, ED II, SCEA, REA, RD, and rolling admissions. Understanding what each option means is essential so you can approach the application process with the right strategy.

EA = Early Action

Early Action is a non-binding application deadline. You apply early, receive an earlier decision, and are not required to attend if admitted. In most cases, you may apply to as many Early Action schools as you would like.

ED = Early Decision

Early Decision is a binding application plan. You may apply to only one school ED. You typically apply by a fall deadline and receive an admission decision by the end of the calendar year, along with any financial aid information if you applied for aid. If you are admitted, you are expected to enroll and withdraw your other pending applications.

If you are denied or deferred from your ED school, you are released from the binding agreement and may move forward with other applications, including ED II if that option is available.

ED II = Early Decision II

ED II is also binding, but the deadline is typically in January, with decisions often released in February. This can be an option for students who were not admitted through ED I or who decide later in the process that they have a clear first-choice school.

RD = Regular Decision

Regular Decision deadlines are typically in January or February, with admission decisions released by the end of March or early April. RD is non-binding, and students generally have until May 1 to decide where to enroll.

REA = Restrictive Early Action*

Restrictive Early Action is non-binding, meaning that if you are admitted, you are not required to attend and still have until May 1 to make your decision. However, REA does place restrictions on where else you may apply early, especially to other private colleges with ED, SCEA, or REA plans.

SCEA = Single-Choice Early Action*

Single-Choice Early Action is similar to REA. It is non-binding, but it limits your ability to apply early to other private institutions, including some non-binding Early Action programs.

Rolling Admissions

Rolling admissions means that a college reviews applications as they are completed and releases decisions on an ongoing basis. Applying earlier can be helpful because spots may become more limited as the cycle progresses.

The key takeaway: deadlines are not just dates. They are part of your overall application strategy. Before choosing an early plan, make sure you understand whether it is binding, whether it restricts your other applications, and whether it makes sense academically, financially, and emotionally.

*Always confirm the exact restrictions, as these vary from school to school.